The Man Behind Nike's Sneaker Innovation

Nike's Innovation Kitchen is one of the most alluring places in the sneakerhead realm. The Kitchen is where the envelope is pushed and where ideas become reality. For most sneaker enthusiasts, it will always remain a far-off mysterious place that's picture is painted by the rumor mill of the Internet. What's known about the Innovation Kitchen, is that it's on Nike's campus in Beaverton, Oregon. Aside from that, the inner workings of one of the most creative places in sneakers remains to our imaginations, meaning, it's something between Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory and Mark Parker's office.

For 30 years, Mike Friton, pushed the creative limits of Nike footwear. Using his skills as a shoemaker, weaver, and paper sculptor to rethink conventional habits, Friton became known as The Innovator. Cineastas recently caught up with Mike to find out more about how is innovative thinking has changed the way the sneakers we wear have been created over the years.